Basics of WSN Simulation: Basically, in a wireless networkthe connection of self-dependent sensors in distributed nodes which are placed in space that is as Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). The main use of these kinds of a node is to note the environmental condition and also notify any climate change or abnormal events in the environment.

“This article is ready to serve knowledge about Wireless Sensor Network simulation, components, some tools used in WSN simulation like Prowler, PiccSIM, Atarraya, True-time, COOJA, Netopia and we will go to discuss some parameters also.”

Here data transformation is possible by physical medium from one node to another node. Source nodes and destination nodes are directly communicating with each other because of the data transfer between source and destination nodes.

Components of WSN

Here, we are using three types of the component which is used in Wireless Sensor Network. There are, 

• An interconnecting Network
• An assembly of the sensor nodes
• One or more sinks

The above list is representing the WSN components and we learn about some basics of Wireless Sensor Network. Then we will go on to the next topic which is tools in WSN. Here a lot of tools can be used for creating a suitable protocol and applications of middleware. Let us see about simulation tools in WSN.

WSN Simulation Tools

           In this a Simulation of Wireless Sensor Network, many varieties of tools are available for improving the performance of simulation and protocols, technology in wireless sensor Network.

• Here one tool is must be included
  • Environment simulation
  • Wireless Sensor Network Simulation
  • Testbed
• In the development of wireless sensor networks, the tools are indispensable.
• WSN give the support for a powerful debugging mechanism like execution tracing, breakpoints, and watches libraries and also provide user-friendly graphical interfaces.
• Let us see some example tools which is supported in WSN. There are,
  • Prowler
  • NetTopo
  • PiccSIM
  • COOJA
  • Atarraya
  • TrueTime

Prowler:  It is mainly designed to run MATLAB and also for the event-driven wireless sensor in network devices.

• Here MATLAB command window is the editor window of the Prowler tool.
• Implementation of some application and other routing protocols by the use of simulation code and it is written by the MATLAB language.
• This framework which is created by MATLAB is mainly used for Optimizing communication protocol.
• In this window, it is possible to view the transferring of the data among notes.
• Prowler, also helps for the verification of some protocols like,
  • Span free
  • Collision
  • Floor 2D and Floor 1D
• To customize the network is impossible by using Prowler tools.

Requirements of Prowler

• ZigBee Support: Yes
• Compiler
  • JDK and C++
  • Apple Xcode Version 4.0 or higher version
• Simulink integration/Matlab: Yes
• Size of the node: IT is based on the type of application.
• Matlab/Simulink integration: Yes

For the development of models created by users, there is no specific or clear documentation is unavailable. The other disadvantage of prowler WSN Simulation Tools it does not have any new version of Prowler and also. It does not give support for protocols for the ZigBee network. Then we go to the next tool that is NetTopo.

NetTopo

           The main purpose of NetTopo tools incorporates with the real sensing nodes and simulation in a single framework Testbed. In other words, the combination of two modes like real nodes and network sensing nodes with a single virtual WSN to the purpose of wireless communication between each node.

• This tool provides helps a large amount of WSN Simulation.
• This majorly attacks the problem i.e. related to the inaccurate problem that occurred and large scale of simulation in Testbed of WSNs.

To attain a realistic and accurate performance that is mandatory to the integration of Testbed, it gives a real-life characteristic to the node this is in the simulation process. These are some basic knowledge about NetTopo then we will move on to the next tool that name is PiccSIM.

PiccSIM

           It is also a kind of simulation to which is used to integrate the modeling, communication, control of the environment. 

• Here, there are two types of required tools that can be used in the tools simulation. There are,
  • To run in MATLAB
  • To running in NS-2.34
• One of the main advantages of this PiccSIM tool is that the integration of NS2.34 and the Simulink. Then the toolkit is mandatory for co-operating the NCS that is Networked Control System.
• Here, we using the NS2.34 this is the older version. In this tool, before installing the NS2.24 some kinds of bugs can be rectified.
• MATLAB or Simulink has installed machines and installed NS2.34 in the virtual machine.
• After those previous installations, the patch file is installed that is PiccSim-NS-2.34. In this kind of patch file, there is a chance to make an error in NS2.34.

Requirements of PiccSIM

• Zigbee Support: Yes
• Operating System: Linux, Windows, OS X
• Simulink/Matlab integration: Yes
• Compiler
  • Windows: JDK and C++
  • Apple Xcode Version 4.0 or higher than that
• Node Size: It is similar to the NS2
• Programming Language: TCL/OTcl for network modeling

The drawback of PiccSIM tool is here the error occurring in the patch file cannot be rectified and the developer gives the long time support for the simulator. These are some disadvantages of this Tool. Then we move on to the next topic that is COOJA tools. This is one of the important tools that are most appropriate for Wireless Sensor Networks and Internet of Things technologies. 

COOJA Simulation tool

• The work of the COOJA tool is from a similar source code and it will integrate various wireless sensor networks.
• This is useful to combine the two kinds of instruction-level simulators to the purpose of own creating a Simulation framework and that is Avrora and MSPsim.
• AVR microcontroller-equipped board is supported by the Avrora Simulator.
• MSP430 Microcontroller-equipped sensor board is supported by the MSPsim Simulator.

Application-level, instruction level, and OS-level are the three layers of WSN for the simulation process in the COOJA tool. These are some basics about the Simulation tool COOJA. Next, we will discuss Atarraya. This tool is mainly designed for the discrete event simulator and the purpose of this tool is to research and teach having some topology algorithms for control and protocols.

Atarraya

• This design is much suitable for Windows OS than adding the directory in the environmental variables it is the process to install the simulator.
• After that, double click on the Atarraya.jar files to open the Simulation panel of Atarraya.
• The structure of the tool is written in Java programming language and Atarraya is mainly supported in the latest version of Oracle java. Here, two-panel are available that is simulation panel and the deployment panel.
• Nodes size, location of the node, and several nodes can be selected in the deployment panel.
• Report panel, deployment panel, node start, protocol selection panel, and visualization panels are used for the simulation of WSN. The purpose of each panel is different and for instance, the protocol selection is done by Protocol Selection Panel and to view the node is achieved by the visualization node.

Advantages of Atarraya

• It provides energy models and always supports simple walk-based mobility.
• It cannot be integrated with MATLAB/Simulink and also does not provide support for protocols in the Zigbee network.
• Atarraya supports various structure models and maintenance.
• It permits them to simulate algorithms for initial agent topology.

Requirements of Atarraya

• Zigbee Support: No
• Operating System: Linux with GUI formatting and Windows
• MATLAB/Simulink integration: No
• Compiler: Java 6
• Node Size: Able to simulate 1000 nodes
• Programming Language: GUI

These are the basic requirements of Atarraya simulation tool in Wireless Sensor Network. Then we will move on to the next tool that is True-time. These tools are used for the real-time system-based framework and it works in MATLAB/Simulink.

True-time

• The structure of this tool is written in MEC and object-oriented programming structures like C++.
• In the PATH environmental variable, we want to add some paths and also a MATLAB startup Path this is the process of installing the True-time.
• To compile the True-time it must have the Microsoft Visual Studio. Here True-time packages are available. There are,
  • PROFINET
  • Ethernet
  • FlexRay
  • Switched Ethernet
  • Round Robin
  • CAN(Controller Area Network)
  • TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)
  • FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access)
• Truetime contains some blocks of wireless simulation like 802.15.4 Zigbee technology and WLAN 802.11b

Requirements of TrueTime

• Zigbee support: Yes
• Operating System: Linux, Windows, OS X
• Matlab / Simulink integration: Yes
• Compiler
  • Apple Xcode Version 4.0 or higher
  • Windows: Microsoft Visual Studio, C++, JDK
• Node size: Limited size of nodes
• Programming Language: Graphical Programming Tool

This truetime tool also acts as the stand-alone network interface block and also provides help for battery power sources. It gives permission for continuous plant dynamic, task execution, and network transmission. These are the same basics about the TrueTime simulation tool. Then we go through the topic that is parameters in WSN Simulation Network.

Parameters for WSN Simulation

• Time Complexity
  • Mean scenario event building time in ms
  • Mean trace exporting time in sec
  • Mean saving time in ms
  • Mean simulation time in sec
  • Mean leading time in ms
• Space complexity
  • File size in kb

So far, we have discussed the wireless sensor network simulation in brief. If you want more understanding about the respective field, kindly approach us. We have completed projects, in wireless sensor networks and also have novel ideas about WSN Simulation. If you have any queries feel free to ask us.